- The ten best spots for windsurfing and wingfoiling in Lusatia
- 1. lake Senftenberg - Buchwalde
- 2. lake Senftenberg - Niemtsch
- 3. lake Partwitz - east bay
- 4th Geierswalder See - Koschendamm
- 5th Bärwalder See - Klitten
- 6. dam Spremberg
- 7th Berzdorfer See - Deutsch Ossig
- 8th Berzdorfer See - Island of the senses
- 9th Bergheider See - Nordstrand
- 10. lake Sedlitz
- Spot Info Lusatia/Lausitzer Seenland
The Lusatian Lakeland is not just there. It is created, it develops, it gets bigger and bigger and offers new lakes and new spots almost every year where no surfer has ever surfed before. Between Dresden and Berlin, a spectacular water landscape is being created with more than 20 new lakes, the largest man-made water landscape in Europe. Here, where lignite mining once dominated the landscape and huge F60 coal excavators tore craters up to 80 metres deep into the earth, a new surfer's paradise is being created by flooding former open-cast mines.
New spots are constantly being created in Lusatia
More than a dozen lakes already exist and more and more are being added that need to be developed for surfing. Three open-cast mines are currently still active, which are to be gradually phased out by the 2030s. The transformation to a growing lake landscape will therefore continue for some years to come.
The local surfing scene is also developing positively along with the lakes. The guys from the newly founded surf club "Lausitzer Surfer" sometimes stand on former coal dumps that have not yet been flooded and discuss where the wind will be best in a few years' time. Pure anticipation!
Alexander Dunkel, Chairman of the newly founded Lusatian Surfers Association (www.lausitzer-surfer.de) enthuses: "Lusatia is a great surfing area with huge potential." He himself spent a lot of time windsurfing in San Francisco and has now more or less landed back in Lusatia: "I was always amazed at how great the windsurfing community in the Bay Area is. As a newcomer, I was warmly welcomed and I made friends straight away, despite my lack of skills. That's how I imagine it will be in Lusatia too."
On 17 August 2024, the surfers of Lusatia will meet up for a barbecue, to exchange news and enjoy a cosy get-together on the surfing meadow of the Komfortcamping Senftenberger See right next to the water sports school. If you fancy it, just come along with your family.
The surfers want to help shape the development of the lakes in Lusatia
Alex and his Surfdudes particularly want to help shape the future of the Lusatian water sports dorado that is currently being created. In this respect, the Lusatian Surfers' Association also sees itself as representing the interests of those who want to make the newly emerging lakes usable for surfing in a sustainable way. Together with like-minded people, the newly founded surfing association would also like to exert political influence on where access points for surfers are secured, proper access to the beach is made possible and which rules make sense where and for whom.
This spot guide gives you an overview of the most important current surf spots on the various lakes. Different rules and individual exclusion zones and closure periods apply at each lake. The main reason for this is the complicated conversion of the sometimes very deep and different types of former coal dumps into lakes - you can find all the relevant information in the spot descriptions.
- Further detailed information on the lake profiles and everything you need to know about the Lakeland can be found on the website of the Lusatian Lakeland Tourism Association: lausitzerseenland.de/en/the-lakes.html
- An overview of the lakes can be found here: sedlitzersee.de/seekarte
The ten best spots for windsurfing and wingfoiling in Lusatia
1. lake Senftenberg - Buchwalde
51.5119, 14.0254
Lake Senftenberg is the first flooded and best-known lake in Lusatia with windsurfing infrastructure. "Buchwalde" on the northern shore is the most popular spot in westerly winds, centrally located and very well developed. Easterly winds also work perfectly. Southerly winds are onshore and enable the longest strokes. In addition to pitches and car parks for motorhomes, there is a great surfing beach with an extensive meadow - and a motorhome pitch especially for surfers! That's quite remarkable. A first glance at the map suggests an extensive expanse of water, but this is put into perspective on closer inspection: Around 60 per cent of the lake is a restricted area. A huge, partially unstable island in the centre of the lake is a nature reserve and is marked by buoys at a considerable distance from the shore. Anyone who uses the barrier as a neck buoy can quickly receive a payable visit from the water police. The line between the buoys must not be crossed. Despite this restriction, the lake is very popular with surfers due to the still sufficient surfable water areas, the accessibility of the spotters and the good infrastructure already in place. Only for foilers and racers can it be tight on good westerly wind days at the Buchwalde spot due to the short distance to the nature reserve opposite.
2. lake Senftenberg - Niemtsch
51.4994, 13.9861
Klaus Brinschwitz started windsurfing and hiring out equipment 26 years ago on the western shore of Lake Senftenberg at Niemtsch beach. As the operator of the water sports school on Lake Senftenberg, he and his team still offer everything that is fun on the water. The Senftenberg comfort campsite is located right next to his water sports centre. There is a surfing meadow where you can spend the night. You must bring your surfboard, otherwise you will be parked in the "normal" car park. The best conditions for a summer holiday in Lusatia with water sports enthusiasts. Lake Senftenberg is the first flooded lake with a long-standing infrastructure - the classic in the region, so to speak. North to east winds are ideal here. But even with westerly winds, you can get your money's worth after a little cover.
3. lake Partwitz - east bay
51.5259, 14.1677
Lake Partwitz is still a secret spot. Originating from the Skado open-cast mine, its beautiful turquoise water colour is created by adding lime, which is used to neutralise the industrial residues and ensure bathing water quality. A good infrastructure, car parks close to the water, a beautiful sandy beach and good wind conditions already promise the lake a promising future. Its "Ostbucht" spot is one of the few lakes that works in south to south-westerly winds. The spot is located in the north-east of the southern basin, on the bathing beach. A large car and motorhome parking area right next to the Kalayaan Sail & Surf Station contributes to the good infrastructure. The equipment has to be carried through a barrier to the water, where a marvellous beach awaits. If the wind is strong enough, a small, steep wave builds up that can be used for jumps. In the centre of the lake, the waves sometimes overlap a little, which is due to the beach shape of the Scado peninsula protruding far into the lake and can be quite challenging. For locals, the east bay is the best and most popular spot out of season, as it can get very crowded here in summer. For nature conservation reasons, Lake Partwitz is off-limits to kiters and unfortunately foilers also (still) have to switch to other spots in Lusatia.
4th Geierswalder See - Koschendamm
51.4970, 14.1310
The Geierswalder See - formerly the Koschen open-cast mine, works from south-west to north-west. A great beach invites you to surf at the Koschendamm spot in the south. There's choppy water when the wind is good. Once you have left the short standing area behind you, you can really let it rip. Seecamping Geierswalde is located at the spot. If you are only there during the day, you will find a car park on the large meadow in front of the campsite. At the OSTufer beach bar, you can enjoy a beer directly on the beautiful sandy beach - and the sun sets over the water - wow! Nobody asks about the sea anymore. About a kilometre further west is the Marina Camping Geierswalder See between the marina and Wake & more, a waterskiing and wakeboarding school. The new infrastructure around the lighthouse is perfect. As there are many alternative options due to the variety of lakes and spots, the lake is often avoided by advanced windsurfers due to the large number of kiters. For windsurfing beginners, however, Lake Geierswald offers the best starting conditions and plenty of space in moderate winds.
5th Bärwalder See - Klitten
51.3594, 14.5589
The surfing scene meets at Bärwalder See to the east of Klitten Marina. The spot works very well in westerly to northerly winds, but it is also rideable on good southerly wind days. The lake has already earned a reputation for being well supplied with wind. Windsurfing is permitted in the entire navigable area - just check the sign with the navigation areas before the first start.
A huge expanse of water invites freeriders, trickers and foilers to heat up to their heart's content, even if the area right in the centre of the lake is closed. However, with westerly to north-westerly winds, this restricted area is irrelevant. For insiders, Klitten is the best spot for foil beginners due to its location and the often moderate conditions. The entrance to the spot is relatively narrow, with a short, partly rocky standing area. You can park at Mario's snack bar. An interesting backdrop with the power station in the background completes the picture, symbolising this changing region of Lusatia - from an industrial location to a leisure paradise!
Apart from the Klitten marina with a snack bar just a few hundred metres away, the infrastructure here is not as well developed as on Lake Senftenberg and Lake Berzdorf. There is another access point opposite on the north-western shore, south-west of Boxberg. A large car park also allows overnight stays in motorhomes for 20 euros. It is mainly kiters who meet here at the "kitesurfer beach". The surfing area is restricted by buoys.
6. dam Spremberg
51.6460, 14.4119
North of Spremberg, the Spree was dammed between 1958 and 1965. The result is the Spremberg dam, which can be surfed on from 1 April to 15 October. The reservoir follows the course of the Spree in a north-south direction and is used in particular to regulate the water in the Spreewald. The shore is wooded, so surfers are mainly on the water when the wind is blowing from the north or south - only then does it blow freely and quite constantly. There is a beautiful sandy beach on the eastern shore in Bagenz where you can park your campervan - a very idyllic spot! North to north-west are the favoured wind directions here. A kiosk, a beer garden and public toilets complete the picture.
You can also get onto the water opposite on the west bank, where you can board the boat in Klein Döbbern. Via Alte Poststraße you reach the Spree Camp campsite, which is located directly on the water. A beach bar with snack bar makes for a successful après-surf. The water quality is very good and the atmosphere is relaxed and cosy. Kiters can be found a few hundred metres further north, on the so-called north beach.
7th Berzdorfer See - Deutsch Ossig
51.1029, 14.9770
At 960 hectares, Lake Berzdorf south of Görlitz on the Polish border is one of the largest lakes in Saxony. It took ten years to flood the residual open-cast mining hole and was completed in 2013. The "Berzi" has long since become the water sports paradise of Lusatia - only foiling is (still) prohibited here.
The Deutsch Ossig spot is one of the best spots for south, south-west to north-west winds and offers everything windsurfing enthusiasts need. Here on the north-eastern shore, you are never alone on the water when the wind blows. The southern part of the beach is officially designated as a surfing beach. From the car park, you walk along the beach promenade over the narrow strip of beach and a short, partly stony standing area into the water. Even with an easterly wind, nobody feels compelled to drive to another spot; you simply surf a little further away from the shore parallel to the north-east beach. The easterly wind is best in the centre of the lake in the northern area.
You can park directly on the beach and always find a parking space outside the high season and when it's windy. It only gets crowded in summer. Caravans are allowed to park at the back of the north-east beach. There are no connections for electricity and water. However, it is also possible to stay overnight in a motorhome directly at the spot for a small fee. After the session, a visit to the Görlitz beach bar directly on the beautiful sandy beach is well worthwhile. Or you can pay a visit to the Carari beach bar at the southern end of the beach promenade after a windy day. Here, too, you can sit outside and enjoy your drink right on the beach. The sundowner comes free of charge.
8th Berzdorfer See - Island of the senses
51.074, 14.961
Nomen est omen! In front of the "Island of the Senses" hotel, the north-west wind is much more constant and stronger than on the north-east beach. The bathing area, which is marked by buoys in summer, begins to the north of the surfing beach. Windsurfing and wingfoiling are prohibited here. Surfing is also prohibited in the bird sanctuary opposite the north-east beach. The area approx. 50 metres from the shore is marked by buoys. All in all, however, there is plenty of space on the water for tricks, speeding or cruising.
You can park at the Berzdorfer See-Ost car park. From here it is about 100 metres to the water. To spend the night, drive back up to Deutsch Ossig.
The Berzdorfer See surf club was founded in 2021. The association is the point of contact for windsurfing, SUP and wingfoiling on Lake Berzdorf. The lake is prohibited for kiters for nature conservation reasons.
9th Bergheider See - Nordstrand
51.5828, 13.7811
The newly opened Bergheider See is an absolute insider tip for flat water heaters and tricksters in Lusatia. Access from the car park to the water at the Nordstrand spot is steep and difficult in places. However, the spot has exclusive wind conditions. As there is hardly any natural cover, the wind from the west and east can develop unhindered. But south winds are also easy to surf here. The sandy beach is marvellous and very wide and spacious. However, if you ignore the fine sand when putting the mast together, you may experience a blue miracle when you rig it!
You can't miss the car park at Nordstrand, because even from a distance you can see the adjacent "F60 visitor mine" with the largest preserved coal conveyor bridge in the region towering mightily into the sky. This steel colossus, also known as the horizontal Eiffel Tower, stands (or lies) on the site of the former open-cast mine and has become an excursion magnet for the whole family. Every year, the iconic Feel Festival takes place next door on the wide sandy beach of Bergheider See. A place to be in many respects!
10. lake Sedlitz
51.5583, 14.1274
Lake Sedlitz is still closed to all water sports. In this respect, we are reporting here on a spot that does not yet exist - but which should soon become interesting. The 20-year flooding of Lake Sedlitz is expected to be completed in 2025 or 2026. And then Lake Sedlitz should become a surfer's dream. The north shore will be perfectly ventilated from north-west to west to south-west. In the north-west, a ride of around 2.5 kilometres in length towards the "Rusty Nail" on the southern shore will be possible. The observation tower, made of rusty metal, offers an excellent panoramic view of the Lusatian Lakeland and is recommended on calm days. If you take a look around, you'll be surprised, because the essential surfing infrastructure is already here! A newly designed area with car parks, motorhome pitches and a sanitary building is already waiting to accommodate water sports fans. There is a snack bar right next to the pitch and 100 metres further on, the "Kleine Hof-Imbiss" invites you to linger in an idyllic courtyard. The shoreline has already been landscaped with a bathing beach and passenger jetty. The only thing missing is the right water level. But the infrastructure is to be expanded further. At 1.42 hectares, Lake Sedlitz will be the largest artificial lake in the Lusatian Lakeland. It is predicted to have great potential. It remains to be hoped that the responsible developers and politicians will find the right standards in order to ultimately enable a near-natural and non-expanding tourist utilisation that also takes into account the water sports interests in Lusatia.
Spot Info Lusatia/Lausitzer Seenland
Journey
The Lusatian Lakeland is located in the Dresden-Cottbus-Bautzen triangle and is easily accessible. It is around 65 kilometres from Dresden to Lake Senftenberg and around 140 kilometres from Berlin via the A13 to the Lusatian Lakeland.
Living & Camping
The best way to book holiday flats and rooms is via the well-known online booking platforms or via www.lausitzer-seenland.de. You can also book campsites and motorhome pitches here.
- Comfort camping Senftenberger See, komfortcamping-see.de
- Seecamping Geierswalder See, Promenadenweg 5-7, Elsterheide
- Caravan site Elsterheide, directly on Lake Partwitz at Kalayaan Sail & Surf
- Caravan site Buchwald, senftenberger-see.de
- Car park Lieske am Sedlitzer See, Lieske Dorfstr. 28 A, Neu-Seenland
- Caravan site Berzdorfer See, Zum Nordstrand, 02827 Görlitz
To avoid problems with wild camping from the outset, please always stay overnight on the camping sites or pitches. And stock up on everyday necessities beforehand - you can't shop everywhere. If you take a look around, you will find delicious food, including regional cuisine, from the restaurant in the beach hotel to the inn, the beach bar and the snack bar. The idyllic ambience is often impressive.
Wind and weather
The wind is largely dependent on the general weather situation and is particularly strong when low-pressure systems move across the country from the west. Southerly and northerly wind directions are less common. Weather conditions with easterly winds mainly occur in early summer. Due to the variety of spots, a suitable entry point can be found for every wind direction. The greatest wind yield is in the months from October to March. But even in the warmer months of the year, the area provides enough gliding wind days to get your money's worth at the diverse spots. For most surfers in Lusatia, a winter wetsuit is just as worthwhile as a 3/2 neo for warmer times. And in summer it can get very hot here in Lusatia, so the shorty sometimes gives way to board shorts.
Surf schools & shops
There are surfing providers and schools at Lake Senftenberg and Lake Partwitz:
- Water sports school Senftenberger See, natur-wassersport.de
- Kalayaan Sail & Surf Lusatian Lakeland, kalayaan.com
Both windsurfing providers also offer catamaran and dinghy sailing, optimist sailing and stand-up paddling courses. At the other lakes, water sports enthusiasts should bring their own equipment, as there are no hire centres or surf schools (yet).
Kiting is only permitted on the western shore of Bärwalder See, the eastern shore of Geierswalder See and the northern shore of Bergheider See. Lake Geierswald in particular is usually left to the kitesurfers, because although windsurfers are also allowed on the water there, they leave the water area to the kitesurfers due to the many alternative options. Consideration can also work in this way.
Alternative programme
Lake Geierswald and Lake Partwitz offer the opportunity to paddle, row, canoe, stand-up paddle, wakeboard and water ski when the wind takes a break. Diving is also possible, especially at Gräbendorfer See in Brandenburg.